Sheet-metal window screen for railway cars



May 27. 1924.

W. W. WATSON SHEET METAL WINDOW SCREEN FOR RAILWAY CARS 2 Sheets-Sheet4 2 Filed May v 2l 1921 5 /z/D 54 @www Fatented May 27, 1924.

N anatra WILLIAM-W. WATSON, 0F JAMESTOXVN, NEW YORK.

SHEET-METAL WINDOW SCREEN FOR RAILWAY CARS.l

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I', WILLIAM W. VVA'rsoN, a citizen of the United States', residing at the city of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Tindow Screens for Railway Cars, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The invention relates to sheet metal window screens as adapted for railway cars and similar uses; and is an improvement upon the car window screen construction shown in Letters Patent Number 1,238,854; and the object of they improvement is, first, to provide a strong and durable tubular screen frame with locking bolts for the notched guide strips in the frame sides, which bolts are connected so as to be operable to withdraw the same from the lower screen side when in the raised position in the frame of the car above the visible window frame, in which raised position said bolts cannot be manually actuated to withdraw the same by means of the actuating levers, but must be withdrawn by means of a hook; and, second, to provide adjusting lateral side strips so that said screen frame shall fit slightly different sized windows and run smooth upon said guide strips, yet permit the easy insertion and withdrawal of said window screen in the window frame upon said guide strips, which adjustment is necessitated by the natural variance in the construction of the supposedly same size window frames; and the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter' set forth and claimed.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a car window with the car frame in section, showing the improved window screen in the elevated position with the hook in position for withdrawing the bolts fromy their locking engagement with the guide strips on the window frame and drawing down the screen. Fig. 2 is a crosswise sectional view at line 2 2 in Fig.,8; and Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional view at line 8-3 in Fig. 8, the central portions of the frame being broken away to show enlarged sectional views of the frame side. Fig. l is a detailed elevation of the central turn or crank plate mid- Applcaton filed May 21,

way of the upper frame side upon which the slotted ends of the connecting links for the locking bolts are shown; also in dotted line the position of the'upper end of the downwardly projecting actuating rod for the bolts; and Fig. 5 is a sectionalfview of said turn or crank plate, said sectional view being construction and arrangement of the same as to the lateral frame sides and the central or cross frame strip through which the withdrawing rod passes so that it can be engaged by the withdrawing hook through a slot in the lower frame side. Fig. 9 is a crosswise sectional view of the frame at line 9 9 drawn about double the scale of the frame and guide strips as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10` is a sectional View of an upper portion of the frame side showing the central turn or crank plate in section with the slotted links connecting the same with the locking bolts in the withdrawn position.l Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the preferred form ofv one of the bolt barrels showing the spring bolt within the same; and Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 13 is a perspective View of the insert strip forholding thelateral side springs in working position within the frame side.

Like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 15 designates the rtubular sheet metal frame side which is cut and bent from thea't sheet'metal strip by means of suitable dies so as to form the lengthwise groove 16 along the inner edges ofv said frame side.

The numeral v17 designates the top rail which is preferably formed of one or' more strips of sheet metal shaped so as to provide said lengthwise groove 16 which'opens sidewise along the inner edge, and the narrow lengthwise groove 18 which also opens sidewise along the outer edge, both of said grooves enlarging inwardly. The inner groove 1G enlarges inwardly tc receive the spline or holding strip 19 for attaching the screen fabric 2O within the I(O roove 16. The outer groove 18 enlarges inwardly to receive and retain therein the weather stripping 21 which tits within the groove 18 and extends beyond the rail or frame side.

rlhe top rail orupper tubular frame side 17 is preferably formed of a plurality of sheet metal strips, the contacting edge por' tions of which are pressed together and bent into the lengthwise channel grooves 16 and 18 along the inner and outer edges of' the same, the edges of said strips being so arranged as to width as to narrow the mouths of each of said grooves 16 and 18, the thickness of the inturned sheet metal edges so that said grooves may be said to enlarge inwardly to hold the spline 19 and the weather stripping- 21. The contacting edges ot said sheet metal strips are preferably welded or soldered or otherwise attached so that they cannot turn or move upon one another, thereby giving rigidity to the trame.

The lower cross rail or tubular itrame side 22 is preferably made 0'1"' two sheet metal strips 23% and 24k in somewhat the same torni as the upper frame side or cross rail 1"?, the exceptions being that the groove 1.6 is made slightly diiierent, the strip 2d being bent at an inclined angle 25 to prevent the use oit the lowering hook 26 upon the screen or trame side ,in lowering the same, and the lengthwise groove 27 for the guide strip 28 is preferably formed on the outer side ot the lower edge of the rail 22 so that said groove 27 opens downward and the guide strip 28 may be pressed downward onto the window sill to make a tight joint between said window sill and the screen frame.

The corners of the screen .frame are preterably initcred and united by soldering or welding, though-they may be united by any other suitable means. The opposite corners of the upper Jtraine side are provided with the spring bolts 29 and 30 in barrels 31 and 32 which engage in the notches 33 o't the guide strips 34 on the window traine at each side.

The opposite lateral edges have the grooves 35 and 3G. The groove 35 is formed in a preferably sheet metal channel insert 3"? which fits within the groove 38 in the lateral frame side 39. A pair ot screws 4-0 e.v tend through the groove 1.6 and :trame side 39 into the insert 37, suitable threaded nuts '11 being' provided in said insert to receive the threaded ends oit the screws 40, the spline or holding strip 19 being slotted on its inner or split side, as shown at 42 in lFig. 2, to permit the insertion of the spline 19 in said groove 1 6. A. washer L13 is attached to the screw within the frame side 39 to bear against the inner wall ot said frame side and thereby move the insert 37 inward or outward is desired in order to adjust the screen trame to' the opening between the `guide strips 54, said opening having great an amount oit variance in different window trames as onedialf inch between frames of supposedly the same measurements in difierent railway cars.

rlhe opposite 'trame side lll is provided with a channel-shaped insert l5 which can ries therein preferably a wooden strip insert 11G having the pairs of notches l? to receive therein the angularly bent ends o't the springs 48. A pair ot inwardly projecting guide pins 49 are provided one in each end ot the channel 4.5, which engage in guideways 50 and 51 in the tubular trame side to thereby hold said insert 15 in perfect alinenient it adjusts outward and inward in moving up and down. the guide strips 311, thereby always holding said springs #L8 in working position as they press against the inner wall of the `lateral trame side ai.

lt is apparent that this construction o'l the two trame sides gives adjustable grooves 35 and 36 which are resiliently adjustable tor small variances as to the distance between the guide strips Se by means oit the springs t, and may be permanently adjusted for greater variances by means of the adjusting screws 41:0 and grooved channel insert 3T.

rllhe spring bolt 29 has the barrel 31 pre1- erably struck up from sheet metal with the sidewise extension 51 which forms, as stated, a guidcway for the guide pin 49 for the insert 15 to hold said insert in proper alinement. Said sidewise extension is preferably oblong instead of round so as to permit the sidewise movement of the pin in its relation to its companion pin 49 at the opposite end ot said insert, Isince absolute accuracy is unnecessary in the movement or placing oit these pins as to their vertical adjustment, the necessary part being to hold said pins in vertical alinement, that is, so that the insert l5 does not weave or move sidcwise, but the screen frame will travel upward and down- :ard with ease and accuracy.

rllhe locking` bolts 29 and 30 in their barrels 31 and 32 are connected to a central turn or crank plate 52 by means of links 53 and 54;. Said links 53 and 541; are attached to the inner sides ot. the annular groovcd turn or crank plate 52 by means olf' the wrist pins 55 and 55 in take-up slots 57 and 58 in said links 53 and The slots 57 and 58 permit the use of manually actuatable levers 59 and 6() which are attached to the bolts 29 and 30 to manually withdraw the saine when the screen Ytraine is accessible as in the lowered position. It is apparent, however, that when in the raised position in the trame 61 oit the car side as shown in Fig. 1, said frame being pushed upward between the window sash 62. il' is necessary to use the lowering` hook 26 to withdra-` the bolts 29 and 3VO and draw CTI lllO

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the screen downward into the lowered position as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1.

In order to accomplish this withdrawal of the bolts 29 and 30 when in the Iraised position, a central tubular cross rail 63 is provided in the screen frame 15, which rail 63 has the attaching grooves 16 along the sides of the same for the screen fabric, thereby providing a hollow tubular way for the rod or lever 64. The rod 64 is pivotall'y attached to the turn plate 52, preferably as shown in Fig. 5, said rod 64 having an opening in its lower end through which the lowering hook 26 can be inserted to thereby turn the turn table 52 by a downward draw and simultaneously withdraw the bolts 29 and 30 and draw downward upon the screen frame, quickly and easily lowering 4the same. A slot 65 is provided central of the lower edge of the lower screen rail through which the hook 26 may engage the slotted end of the rod 64.

It is now apparent that the screens may be pushed upward into the raised position for protection when in inclement weather, thereby automatically springing the bolts 29 and 30 into the locking notches 33 in the guide strips 34, and that said screen frame may be unlocked and withdrawn from said raised position when it is desired to use the same by simply pulling downward on the rod 64.

In order to assemble the bolt, turn table and connective link mechanism with the E manual actuating levers and downward rod within the top rail 17, a cover 66 is provided for said upper frame side or top rail 17 which fits closely over the same and around the central cross rail 63 as shown in Figs. 3 and 10, thereby covering the openings 67, 68 and 69 in said top rail 17. The cover 66 is channel-shaped and fits closely over said top rail so it can be sprung ontothe same and give a pleasing finish to said top rail. Its removal permits immediate access to the connective joints to assemble the parts in the tubular frame side, or to repair the same, The right half of this top rail construction is shown in Fig. 10, the left half being a duplicate in reverse order of the right half. The cover 66 is-shown in Fig. 1 with the locking mechanism in dotted outline in the top rail beneath the same. Said cover 66 is not shown in F 8 since said top rail is in section, the side upon which said cover 66 would be placed being removed. rlhe exact channel shape and the relation of said cover to the parts is clearly shown in Fig. 3 in cross section.

The channel strip insert 37 is held against displacement from the frame side b-y means of a screw 70 and a closed end 71 on the lower end of said channel strip 37. The upper end is held in place by means of a crosswise pin 72 through the inner end of the guide pin 49 which does not permit the escape of said pin 49 from the guide eX- tension 51.

lhat is claimed is:

1. A window screen comprising a sheet metal tubular kframe having a sidewise opening attaching groove .along its inner edge for the screen fabric, thel outer side edges of said frame having lengthwise laterally faced grooves, a channel strip having a groove along its outer edge for a guide strip of a window frame insertable in one of said laterally faced grooves, a wood insert in. said channel strip having crosswise holding grooves, angular ended springs insertable in said crosswise grooves to hold the same and resiliently adjust said grooved channel strip, and any adjustable grooved channel strip in the second laterally faced groove to fit said screen frame to the guide strips.

2. A window screen comprising a sheet metal tubular frame having a sidewise opening attaching groove along its inner edge for the screen fabric, a spline in said groove, the outerside edges of said frame having lengthwise laterally faced grooves, a channel strip having a groove along its outer edge for the guide strip of a window frame and insertable in one of said laterally faced grooves, a wood insert in said channel strip having crosswise holding grooves, angular ended springs insertable in said crosswise grooves to resiliently adjust said grooved channel strip, said channel strip having guide pins in the opposite ends thereof, guide ways for said guide pins in said tubular frame to hold said groovedI channel strip in alinement, and a grooved strip in 'the second lateral lengthwise groove having screw adjustment therefor to assist in adjusting said frame to the window frame.

3. A window screen comprising a sheet metal tubular frame having an attaching groove around its inner edge for the screen fabric, thelateral edges of said Iframe having lengthwise grooves therein with closed ends, a resilient grooved insert strip for one of said lateral grooves, a grooved channel insert for the second lengthwise lateral groove`r and adjusting screws for said insert in said second later-al groove extending through said attaching groove for said screen fabric and having threaded openings in said insert to adjust the same to the guide strip and center said frame between the guide strip on the opposite sides of the window frame.

4. A window screen comprising a sheet metal tubular frame having an attaching groove around it-s inner edges for the screen fabric, a lateral edge of said frame having a lengthwise groove therein, a channel strip insert in said lengthwise groove, guide pins attached to the opposite ends of Said channel strip insert, Spring looking bolts in the uppeI corners of said tubular frame, tubulai' bari-els for said Spring looking bolts, one of said barrels having a sidewise extension to provide a guideway for the guide pin at the upper end of said channel strip, the lower end of said channel strip having :L Closure for the open Channel Side, a screw through the frame side to engage Within said Closure und pevent the displacement o' Said channel insert, and adjusting screws for Said Channel strip inserti to h't said frame to the guide Strips on the Window frame.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

V371 LLAM W. WATSON. 

